Lenawee Co. sheriff: Body is missing Indiana woman

Autopsy on body doesn’t pinpoint cause of death

11/14/2012

Kathy Sackrider

ADRIAN — Authorities confirmed Tuesday through dental records that the body found in a Lenaewee County field last week near Palmyra is that of Kathy Sackrider, who went missing nearly two months ago after visiting her daughter in Sylvania Township.

Ms. Sackrider, 59, of Indiana is the person who was found by a farmer working in his fields on Scott Highway near Station Road on Friday afternoon, Lenawee County Sheriff Jack Welsh said.

Ms. Sackrider was last seen by family on Sept. 18 pushing a grandchild on a swing at her daughter’s home. Her family reported her missing on Sept. 24 to the Lagrange County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana.

“It’s horrible,” said Linda Baranek, Mrs. Sackrider’s sister-in-law. “You have a feeling that you know how it’s going to end, but as long as it hasn’t ended, you have hope. Now we have peace because she’s been found.”

“Right now, we’re just really sad,” Mrs. Baranek said. “We really haven’t had a chance to process anything yet.”

Sheriff Welsh said the autopsy did not determine a cause of death.

Lenawee County authorities are working with Sylvania Township police and the Lagrange County Sheriff’s Office, he said.

Ms. Sackrider’s truck was found Sept. 25 in Whetstone Park, behind the former Churchill’s on Monroe Street. Her purse and a framed photograph of her late husband, John Sackrider, were found inside the vehicle.